The latest set of food hygiene ratings make good reading for the foodies of Preston.

Out of the 1,391 businesses inspected, 96 per cent of them achieved the desired three stars of more.

And only 56 businesses were told to improve, none were given the dreaded zero stars by Preston City Council inspectors.

Simon Neighbour, environmental health manager at the council, said: “This is a win-win situation for everyone. If businesses have a high score it means a good reputation for them and it means we visit them less, which costs us less money.

“We definitely want to thank businesses for all their hard work because getting these ratings isn’t easy. They should feel really proud of this achievement.”

We definitely want to thank businesses for all their hard work because getting these ratings isn’t easy. They should feel really proud of this achievement.

Preston is now one of the leading borough’s in the country for its high scores and while others places struggle, the city continues to improve year on year.

Earlier this year Hyndburn was revealed as one of the worst areas for takeaway food hygiene in the country when 41 of its 105 food establishments failed to achieve a ‘generally satisfactory’ rating of three or higher.

“If a business needs help with improving then we take the time to go down there and work with them because it’s our best interest as well as theirs,” Simon said.

“There’s only one of two which have asked us to go down and we have a 100 per cent record of improving businesses when we work with them.

“We challenge the businesses not scoring three stars to take responsibility for their improvement and to get in contact because we want to help.”

Bluebells Private Day Nursery received five stars and catering manager Mark Webster said: “We freshly prepare breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and snacks for young children every day, so it’s absolutely essential that we do this in a healthy environment.

“Our meals are prepared in the nursery kitchen using fresh vegetables, meat, fish and fruit, so a lot of hard work goes into making sure excellent kitchen policies are in place. We make sure our staff have the right training to carry out these policies and that these standards are upheld every day, so our children can always enjoy healthy food that has been prepared in a hygienic way.

“We’re thrilled to receive the five star rating, not only because it recognises the hard work we put into our children’s food, but also because it gives our parents even more peace of mind that their little ones are being cared for in a healthy environment.”

The figures are an all-round improvement on 2016’s with most businesses improving or retaining their ratings.

Last year 650 businesses were given full marks but this year has seen a further 75 awarded five stars. In 2016, 66 places were told to improve by inspectors with only 56 getting the same message this year.

Last year, Nasza Biedronka, Stonka and Chopan Authentic Cuisine, all of New Hall Lane and The Nile of Church Street were all given the lowest mark of zero stars.

But three of the four mirror the improvement of hygiene in the city after improving their scores this time around.

Chopan Authentic Cuisine made huge improvements, going all the way from zero to four stars in the space of a year.

The Nile jumped up to two stars while Nasza Biedronka was awarded one.

Stonka was no rated after having its licence stripped after smuggled cigarettes were discovered in a hole in a wall.

It has since been replaced by retailer Stokrotka which scored four stars.